162 



The Horticulturist's Ride- Book, 



Preserving: and Printing: of Flowers and Plants, continued. 



Flowers that have stood in a vase for a day or so can be 

 greatly refreshed if taken from the vase at night, thoroughly 

 sprinkled and wrapped, stems, blossoms and all, as closely as 

 possible in a soaked cloth, and laid aside until the morning. 

 They will be much fresher than if they had been left in their 

 vases, yet will not have bloomed out so much. Before thus 

 laying them aside, and again in the morning, a bit of each stem 

 should be cut off, as the end soon hardens. This ought also to be 

 done once or twice a day, even if the flowers are kept constantly 

 in their vases. Roses which have drooped before their time — as, 

 for example, when worn on the dress — may be wonderfully re- 

 vived if the stems, after being thus cut, are placed for ten min- 

 utes in almost boiling water and then removed to cold water. It 

 is also well to add a little charcoal or ammonia to the water in 

 which flowers are standing. 



If salt is added to the water in which cut-flowers are kept, it 

 will delay wilting and decay. 



Printing Plants. — 1. First, lightly oil one side of the paper, 

 then fold in four, so that the oil may filter through the pores, and 

 the plant may not come into direct contact with the liquid. The 

 plant is placed between the leaves of the second folding, and in 

 this position pressed (through other paper) all over with the 

 hand, so as to make a small quantity of oil adhere to its surface. 

 Then it is taken out and placed between two sheets of white 

 paper for two impressions, and the plant is pressed as before. 

 Sprinkle over the invisible image remaining on the paper a 

 quantity of black-lead or charcoal, and distribute it in all direc- 

 tions ; the image then appears in all its parts. With an assort- 

 ment of colors the natural colors of plants may be reproduced. 

 To obtain fixity, rosin is previously added to the black-lead in 

 equal parts. Expose to heat sufficient to melt the rosin. 



2. The best paper to use is ordinary wove paper without water- 

 marks; if it can be afforded, use thin drawing-paper. First 

 select the leaves, then carefully press and dry them. If they bo 

 placed in a plant-press, care must be taken not to put too great 

 pressure on the specimens at first, or they will be spoiled for 

 printing. An old book is the best for drying the samples to be 

 used. Take printers' or proof ink, and a small leather dabber; 



